Imagine being unable to speak for yourself and make your own healthcare decisions during a medical emergency. Do your loved ones know what choices you’d want? Having a living will ensures that your healthcare decisions are honored when you are unable to make them for yourself. In this article, we’ll explore why every adult, no matter their age or health, should have a living will, and how tools like a health care power of attorney and DNR orders work together to protect your voice and values.
What Is a Living Will?
A Living Will, also known as an advanced directive, is a legal document that specifies your wishes for decisions if you are in any way incapacitated to make your own decisions. This is different from a last will and testament, which lists out your appropriation of assets after your death. A living will comes in handy when you cannot make decisions because you are on life support, or you are unable to speak due to a medical condition, or you are mentally incapacitated and incapable of making safe decisions for yourself.
Why Everyone Should Have a Living Will
Medical emergencies can happen at any time, without any warning. Having a living will in place takes the burden off your family of making these tough decisions regarding your healthcare, especially if it’s a topic you haven’t discussed with them. Your healthcare is about you, and you want to make sure that you receive the care that you would wish to, or decline treatments and interventions that you would not like.
The Role of a Healthcare Power of Attorney
A healthcare power of attorney is another legal document specifying who you would specifically like to be the one making your healthcare decisions on your behalf. Together with a living will, you ensure that all your wishes are followed through. Having a trustworthy healthcare power of attorney can alleviate the following potential issues:
- Multiple siblings, children, or parents fighting over what care you should and/or shouldn’t receive.
- If you are legally married, even if you are separated, some states will still refer to your legal spouse as your decision maker. This can become a very sticky situation.
- The next of kin responsible for being your decision maker makes choices based on of their wants and needs, versus yours.
Understanding DNR Orders and End-of-Life Preferences
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order states that if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating, you authorize health care providers to withdraw or withhold CPR. This is a measure people will take if they do not want life-prolonging medical treatment or if CPR might be ineffective. This is also another directive for your healthcare decisions for your healthcare power of attorney to follow. Just because you have a living will does not mean DNR. If part of your living will is to have a DNR order, be sure to discuss your desire with your healthcare provider so that the proper documents can be signed and the team is aware of your decision.
Common Misconceptions About Living Wills
- Only elderly people need to have a living will. Everyone should have a living will so their healthcare wishes are known and followed in the event of a medical emergency.
- A living will is a document that outlines a refusal of care. A living will specifies what care you will accept and/or decline in emergency situations. It’s not a negative document to have; it’s a necessity to receive the care you desire.
- Family members automatically know your wishes and will always make the best decision for you. If you don’t have open conversations about life wishes, you cannot expect someone to know how to make the decisions for you. People can be selfish and make decisions that only benefit themselves, rather than the patient, or act on pure emotion.
Preparing a living will isn’t just a legal task, but you’re doing it for yourself to ensure that you have the future you prefer. By having your wishes in writing and appointing a trustworthy decision-maker, you control what your future looks like. Start having the conversations today so your voice is heard, and make sure you get it in writing for a day you can’t use that voice.